Remains found west of Roseburg identified

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ROSEBURG, Ore. -- The human remains found west of Roseburg back in July have been tentatively identified as Deborah Schneider, a woman reported missing to the Sheriff’s Office in July of 2011.

Schneider was 55-years-old at the time, and was from Myrtle Creek.

On Monday, July 02, 2012, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Detective’s Division was notified of possible human skeletal remains that were discovered by a citizen on Saturday, June 30, 2012, on private property West of Roseburg.

Detectives contacted the citizen, who took law enforcement to the area where the remains were discovered and they confirmed the remains were human.

They were found in the 8000 block of Coos Bay Wagon Road on private property owned by Seneca Jones Timber Company.

Extensive searches of the area were conducted with the assistance of the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office and the Douglas County Search and Rescue Team. During these searches, additional items of evidence were collected including items of clothing, according to the Sheriff's office.

Schneider had reportedly stated she was checking herself into an alcohol treatment center around the time of her disappearance, which was in the spring of 2010.

The remains were examined by the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, with the assistance of the State Forensic Anthropologist.

Officials say although they think the remains are those of Schneider, positive identification is pending DNA processing by the University of North Texas – Center for Human Identification, which could take up to several months.

This case is being investigated as homicide and is still under investigation.

If anyone has information they believe is related to this incident, they are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 541-440-4471, or the Detective's Tip Line at 541-957-2099.